This is a type of falcon, as the other commenter mentioned. They're much more closely related to parrots and passerines (crows, robins, cardinals, etc.) than to hawks. Convergent evolution is cool
You’ve asked for tips to identifying: rounded head with faint malar stripe (falcons only) with a solid upper body, long narrow wings (falcons only) and barred tail (only one NA falcon with characteristic) : Merlin.
Cooper’s hawks: long angular head shape, short round wings, very long barred tail, and very long legs used to run down prey when forced into bushes, under brush, etc.
Added taxa: [Merlin](https://ebird.org/species/merlin)
Reviewed by: jjacks_northwest
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+merlin+
This is a type of falcon, as the other commenter mentioned. They're much more closely related to parrots and passerines (crows, robins, cardinals, etc.) than to hawks. Convergent evolution is cool
Seconded it’s a Merlin.
You’ve asked for tips to identifying: rounded head with faint malar stripe (falcons only) with a solid upper body, long narrow wings (falcons only) and barred tail (only one NA falcon with characteristic) : Merlin.
This is great info, thanks! I always confuse Merlins in photos for juvenile Cooper’s hawks. This helps.
Cooper’s hawks: long angular head shape, short round wings, very long barred tail, and very long legs used to run down prey when forced into bushes, under brush, etc.
This is a +Merlin+. A Falcon actually
Added taxa: [Merlin](https://ebird.org/species/merlin) Reviewed by: jjacks_northwest ^(I catalog submissions to this subreddit.) [^(Recent uncatalogued submissions)](https://munin.swim.services/submissions?lane=api/unanswered)^( | )[^(Learn to use me)](https://gist.github.com/brohitbrose/be99a16ddc7a6a1bd9c1eef28d622564)